Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,905,485	$ 1,980,689	$ 1,835,766
Operating expenses		1,406,376	1,422,769	1,315,250
Operating income		162,662	281,564	249,485
General and administrative		(124,338)	(127,078)	(106,865)
Depreciation and amortization		(150,861)	(144,572)	(156,501)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses		(620)		(6,085)
Asset impairments	$ (1,600)	(60,628)	(4,706)	(1,580)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		1,905,320	1,980,530	1,835,738
Operating expenses		1,405,969	1,422,083	1,314,736
Operating income		499,351	558,447	521,002
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		1,706,232	1,779,958	1,675,998
Operating expenses		1,288,938	1,304,121	1,222,418
Operating income		417,294	475,837	453,580
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		105,990	123,265	101,841
Operating expenses		88,903	95,159	76,898
Operating income		17,087	28,106	24,943
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		93,098	77,307	57,899
Operating expenses		28,128	22,803	15,420
Operating income		64,970	54,504	42,479
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense		(407)	(686)	(514)
General and administrative		(124,338)	(127,078)	(106,865)
Depreciation and amortization		(150,861)	(144,572)	(156,501)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses		(620)		(6,085)
Asset impairments		(60,628)	(4,706)	(1,580)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 165	$ 159	$ 28